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Tropical storm Laura formed in the Atlantic and the NHC forecasts that two potential hurricanes headed toward the Gulf of Mexico could make never-before simultaneous landfall near the same area of the US.
Tropical depression #13 became tropical storm Laura, the 12th named storm of the season on Friday, when it strengthened to maximum sustained winds of around 45 miles per hour. Laura sets a record as the earliest 12th named storm of any hurricane season.
The storm is currently 230 miles east-southeast of the Leeward Islands, WESH 2 Orlando reported.
A potentially dangerous weather situation, one that has never occurred before is in the forecast for the United States next week.
Forecasters from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) are closely monitoring two tropical systems that are headed toward the Gulf of Mexico according to projections.
Tropical Storm Laura and Tropical Depression #14 are currently projected to move into the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall on the same day, at the same time, both as Category 1 hurricanes.
Two tropical storms striking the US is a rare occurrence, and while two tropical storms have been in the Gulf before, in 1933 and 1959, and have both hit the US, two tropical storms have never hit the same part of the US at the same time, ABC 11 Raleigh-Durham reports.
One forecast model shows both storms striking the US around 1 AM on Wednesday, August 26. However, parts of Florida may begin experiencing the effects of the storms as early as Monday.
Tropical Storm Laura is projected to make landfall as either a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph sustained winds or downgrade to a tropical storm with sustained winds of 50 mph, somewhere in the Gulf near Eastern Texas or along the Texas-Louisiana border.
Tropical storm #14 is expected to make landfall somewhere near the Alabama-Florida Panhandle order as a category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph.
But the bad news shows the cone of both storms extending from the center of Florida well into southeastern Texas. Even worse, the crossover of the cones shows portions of Louisiana getting a double whammy near New Orleans, which could result in a dangerous flooding situation.
The prospect of two tropical systems, potentially even two hurricanes, striking the United States at the same time is an extremely dangerous situation. Start making preparations now.
Make sure you have at least a 3-day supply of food and water for you, your family and your pets. Have a first aid kit that also includes prescription medications.
Make sure you have a weather radio, extra batteries, flashlights, candles and/or other types of lighting.
Prepare your home to withstand extreme weather.
Most importantly, have an evacuation plan. Know how, when and where you and your family need to go in case of an emergency that forces you to leave your home. Make sure you have a way of communicating with all of your family members.
If you don’t have a cell phone, get one now. There are many low cost deals that will give you a new android phone free, some even with nothing out of pocket upfront.
Review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) preparation guide for a hurricane or tropical storm.
